Why Fever reporter lost credentials for spreading 'inaccurate information' after reporting on Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark's surprise absence during the Fever's May 20 tilt with the Portland Fire had a dire impact on veteran reporter Scott Agness' relationship with Indiana's press relations.

Clark was surprisingly ruled inactive for the nationally televised contest despite not being listed on an injury report the day before. Agness, a longtime journalist who has covered the Fever for a decade, reported that Clark's absence was part of a cautionary strategy employed by Indiana to limit the strain on Clark's body after an injury-plagued 2025.

What seemed a fairly benign report appears to have turned sour for Agness, who announced on June 2 that he had his press credentials formally revoked for his reporting around Clark's DNP.

Here's what you need to know.

MORE: Sophie Cunningham reveals Fever held 'secret' team meetings

What happened to Scott Agness?

Agness, the man behind Fieldhouse Files — one of the more popular basketball publications on Substack — explained that he had his "credentialed access to all team events" revoked in a recent post.

Indiana's public relations cited Agness' tweet about Clark being ruled out 100 minutes before the start of its May 20 contest with the Fire as reason for his ban.

According to Agness, Fever PR claimed that Agness' tweet — which says Clark's absence was "part of a strategic management plan for the season" — was "inaccurate and unsubstantiated."

"In my response, I told the organization that I stand by my reporting and the intent behind it," Agness wrote.

Why did Fever revoke Scott Agness' credentials?

Agness offered context for the factors that may have led to Indiana's decision to banish him from credentialed access in his latest Substack post. His coverage of Clark's absence appears to have sparked the Fever into action.

On May 20, Agness – who has covered Indiana since 2013 — wrote that the Fever were limiting Clark in part due to "a strategic management plan." That wasn't to say that Indiana had a doctrine laid out to keep Clark off the floor at different points of the season, Agness explained. Rather, he viewed the situation as a fluid one, with the Fever taking into account the injury woes Clark suffered during her sophomore campaign to determine which games to include her in.

Agness included Clark's words in his piece, including a May 26 interview with the Indiana supernova discussing her back, which can often be seen cloaked in a black heating pad while on the bench.

"I don’t think it necessarily started at a certain point," Clark said. "I think it’s just been over the course of the last year when I’ve been understanding my body more.

"I think it’s just finding the balance of when I maybe don’t need to be as aware and when I’m maybe a little too overaware. So still working through that, but I don’t think it’s anything of concern."

"The Fever took specific issue with the phrase 'strategic management plan.'" Agness wrote on June 2. "That’s their right. However, it is consistent with what the team has been publicly emphasizing since last season — keeping the big picture in mind and taking a cautious approach."

Agness also cited his faltering relationship with the Pacers as a potential factor in the Fever's decision to revoke his credentials. Since the 2023-24 season, Agness has been subjected to less access than expected for a journalist of his experience.

Following NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis in 2024, Agness had no access and was taken off the Pacers' email distribution because he had parked in the media lot "without the appropriate passes or clearance." Agness denies the Pacers' charges vehemently. He also believes it has affected his standing with NBA PR at large. For example, Agness had his credential to cover the 2026 All-Star Game — one which featured Indiana star Pascal Siakam — revoked. He also was ruled ineligible to attend last month's NBA Draft Lottery.

"I cannot definitively say whether those Pacers circumstances influenced the Fever’s decision," Agness wrote. "What I can say is that this latest action follows a pattern that has made it increasingly difficult for an independent journalist to provide the type of on-the-ground coverage that readers deserve."